No, hypothyroidism isn’t currently curable, but you can typically manage symptoms with medications. You may have to take this medication permanently to prevent symptoms from reappearing.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include:

If you receive a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, your doctor or healthcare professional will typically prescribe you levothyroxine.

Levothyroxine is a synthetic hormone that will replace the hormone your thyroid gland cannot produce. You will typically take this medication as a tablet, once a day, every day. You may find it best to take it in the morning, on an empty stomach, before you’ve eaten or drunk anything.

If you’re planning a pregnancy, it’s important to let your doctor know as soon as possible so that they can adjust your medication accordingly. Hypothyroidism may not be curable, but with appropriate treatment and monitoring, people’s quality of life or outlook should not be affected.

You may experience hypothyroidism if the gland in your neck doesn’t produce enough hormones. This could be due to Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid and prevents it from producing hormones as it typically should. Other possible causes can include:

  • having your thyroid surgically removed
  • thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid
  • hypothyroidism that is present at birth
  • radiation treatment of the thyroid
  • certain medications
  • in rare cases, a pituitary disease
  • too much or too little iodine in your diet

Talk with a doctor or healthcare professional if you want to know more about the causes of hypothyroidism.